Singapore, 3 July 2012 – Following the success of the first Singapore Packaging Agreement (SPA), signatories have expressed keen interest in continuing their participation in the programme. The second SPA commenced on 1 July 2012, and the companies who have signed on voluntarily will work together to achieve a total annual reduction of 6,500 tons of packaging waste by 2015. In 2011, the annual waste reduction was close to 3,000 tons. By the end of the first SPA there were 139 signatories, and this new SPA aims to increase the number of signatories to 315 by 2015. The second SPA was announced at the WasteMet Asia 2012 Networking Dinner, part of the inaugural CleanEnviro Summit Singapore.

The SPA, which was first launched in 2007, provides a platform and structure for industries to reduce packaging waste. It aims to reduce waste from product packaging, and to raise awareness and educate consumers on the benefits of reducing packaging waste.

A cumulative total of 10,000 tons of packaging waste, the equivalent of about $22 million, has been saved since the SPA was signed. The participating companies achieved these results through various initiatives, such as reducing the size and thickness of packaging, switching to reusable packaging in logistical processes, or changing the way products are packaged.

3R Packaging Awards 2012

This year, 16 companies will be presented with the 3R Packaging Award, which recognises SPA’s signatories for their notable efforts and achievements in reducing packaging waste. The Awards were presented by Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, at the same WasteMET Asia Networking Dinner, at Megu Hall at The Singapore Flyer (see Annex A for list of winners).

Two companies namely Tetra Pak Jurong Pte Ltd and Nestlé Singapore (Pte) Ltd will be awarded the Platinum Award, which is given to companies that win two consecutive Distinction Awards. Tetra Pak had managed to save about 162 tons per year of paper through making improvements to the printing and lamination processes – two processes involved in its production of beverage cartons. The company also initiated the Tetra Pak Schools Recycling Programme in 2008 to encourage schools to recycle used beverage cartons. Tetra Pak has sustained this educational programme over the last five years, providing educational trips and prizes to encourage the schools to keep up their recycling efforts. Currently, 100 schools participate in this programme. Nestle Singapore cut plastic laminate losses by 0.13 ton per year by increasing the length of laminate per reel so as to reduce the frequency of changeover of laminate reels in the production process for its MILO Hi-Calcium 3-in-1 sachets and MILO Easy Cool 3-in-1 sachets. The company also did away with the carton packaging for its laminate reels, saving about 0.39 ton of paper packaging annually. In addition, Nestle changed the packaging of one of its seasoning products from a plastic tub to a plastic pouch, thereby saving 1.23 ton of plastic per year (See Annex B for more details on Tetra Pak’s and Nestle’s projects).

Chief Executive Officer of NEA, Mr Andrew Tan said, “It is important to tackle waste at source and the SPA does this by encouraging businesses to reduce packaging waste and save costs at the same time. The second SPA builds upon the success of the first by aiming for more ambitious targets and encouraging participants from other industry sectors to join in the effort. NEA will work closely with the SPA to achieve these targets.”

Mr Albert Lim, Chairman of Singapore Packaging Agreement Governing Board said, “I am heartened to see, among this year’s 3R Packaging Award winners, signatories who have taken the first step in making improvements to their packaging practices. There are also signatories who have demonstrated continued commitment to reducing packaging waste. I hope to see more signatories participate in the awards in the coming years and integrate sustainability into their business strategy and operations.”